Earlier this year I wrote a piece about Okafor being the #1 pick and that any team that doesn't pick him would make a big mistake. I have to change my mind on that after watching Towns more closely at the end of the year. Don't get me wrong, Okafor is a lock at #1 or #2, but I believe Towns has way more versatility than Okafor has. Especially with the NBA merging into a small ball game, with a PF that can play Center because he can also switch on picks to guard other players. Okafor is a traditional big man with tremendous back to the basket skills, which the team that picks him will utilize him for. The thing is that with the transformation of the small ball game with evidence that it works, (i.e.watch NBA Finals Golden State) the traditional center is losing its value and need. Phil Jackson is not a fan of small ball and would take Okafor before Towns because he is still a believer in working the ball inside out, getting penetration, and get post touches.
It might be my Minnesota bias to why I'm changing my mind from drafting Okafor to now Towns, but I truly believe Towns has so much more potential to become a legitimate super star within a few years. To me he is the next Anthony Davis. He has all the same attributes, minus the offensive abilty that Davis has, but he has a nice mid range jump shot and a decent back to the basket game already. He is a little raw on offense, but will a little NBA help he will become a 20-10 guy within 3 years.
As for the Timberwolves, this pick is a no-brainer. Towns will fit right in with the Wolves. With the rapid development of Wiggins, a young, talented co-star like Wiggins could become one of the best duos in the league for the next 10 years! Yes, that is an optimistic thought, but a very realistic thought if Towns pans out. Having KG will also be very important for the development of Towns. KG has more wisdom than anybody left in the NBA, so for Towns to learn from him, he could become a very tough, young player early in his career. The Wolves also have a lot of assets they are willing to trade to get some more pieces to the puzzle. Possibly trading former #1 pick Anthony Bennett for a draft pick or a proven vet could really be exactly what the Wolves need. A Ricky Rubio and Pekovic package trade for the Knicks #4 pick and a little extra would not be a bad idea either because both Rubio and Pek are injury prone and take up a lot of the Wolves' salary cap.
For the rest of the draft and the reason I wanted to write this post is due to European players, particularly the buzz around Latvian prospect Kristaps Porzingis. Another year, another draft class with tall Europeans that can shoot the 3 and be a swing 4. Every year this happens and do you how many of them turn out??? Andrea Bargnani? NOPE! NONE! Dirk is the sole reason for this false sense of over excitement for tall Europeans. Because he (Dirk) was a pioneer of a big man from Europe who could knock down the 3 consistently, now every draft analysis thinks any tall European that can shoot the 3 will be the next Dirk. It literally drives me crazy. Dirk is the 1/100 European swing 4's that turns out. The rest are drafted and back in Europe within 2 maybe 3 years. Look at the tweet from Jay Bilas and try to argue against it, you CAN'T !! European big guys that can shoot are the worse fallacy in the NBA. These scouts who call themselves professions, literally are delusional to how bad European basketball is compared to the NBA and NCAA Division 1 college basketball. Until one of these draft picks proves otherwise, I will keep this opinion.Here's a list of NBA Busts http://www.thescore.com/nba/news/783326
Here is an article that has a similar take on European players http://www.lostlettermen.com/article/what-if-frank-kaminsky-was-european
Sleepers:
Sleepers are my favorite type of draftees because nobody expects them to be great and it gives the player motivation to work hard to prove to teams they missed out on them. My biggest sleepers this year are JP Tokoto from UNC, Rakeem Christmas from Syracuse, and Anthony Brown from Stanford. Tokoto is my favorite among anyone. He is extremely athletic, long, and can defend. Limited and raw offensively, but with some NBA help he could turn into a lock down defender on a championship team, coming off the bench for energy. I would compare him to a more athletic, but not as good of shooter as Matt Barnes.
My NBA Mock Draft (1-10):
1. Minnesota Timberwolves: Karl-Anthony Towns
2. Los Angeles Lakers: Jahlil Okafor
3. Philadelphia 76ers: D'Angelo Russell
4. New York Knicks: Emmanuel Mudiay
5. Orlando Magic: Justise Winslow,
6. Sacramento Kings: Kristaps Porzingis
7. Denver Nuggets: Willey Cauley-Stein
8. Detroit Pistons: Mario Hezonja
9. Charlotte Hornets: Stanley Johnson
10. Miami Heat: Kelly Oubre
Final thoughts:
The NBA draft is a life changing event for players and teams. Some players turn out to be superstars while the majority end up having short lived NBA careers, but being drafted is an amazing accomplishment that every player that gets drafted should be proud of.
Mark my words: If Emmanuel Mudiay goes to Sacramento he will be a bust.
Trey Lyles will be an interesting pick. I see him becoming a starter within 3 years on a middle of the pack team. A lot of potential for him.
I included Oubre in the top 10 because I think he has a lot of potential to be a scorer in the league within a few years. To me he is a steal or bust.
On one mock draft, I saw 2 of the sleepers I like going to MN. Anthony Brown and Rakeem Christmas.
Next week free agency starts so I wouldn't be surprised if any of these picks were traded for some already proven players such as the Lakers trading their pick to Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins.
Free Agents for this summer: http://www.sbnation.com/a/nba-free-agents-2015
Follow me on twitter @basketballguy61
The NBA draft is a life changing event for players and teams. Some players turn out to be superstars while the majority end up having short lived NBA careers, but being drafted is an amazing accomplishment that every player that gets drafted should be proud of.
Mark my words: If Emmanuel Mudiay goes to Sacramento he will be a bust.
Trey Lyles will be an interesting pick. I see him becoming a starter within 3 years on a middle of the pack team. A lot of potential for him.
I included Oubre in the top 10 because I think he has a lot of potential to be a scorer in the league within a few years. To me he is a steal or bust.
On one mock draft, I saw 2 of the sleepers I like going to MN. Anthony Brown and Rakeem Christmas.
Next week free agency starts so I wouldn't be surprised if any of these picks were traded for some already proven players such as the Lakers trading their pick to Sacramento for DeMarcus Cousins.
Free Agents for this summer: http://www.sbnation.com/a/nba-free-agents-2015
Follow me on twitter @basketballguy61
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